The Guardian Becomes theGuarded

When we first put Nathan in the same paddock as Butternut, he took his role as "Blind Pony Guardian" very seriously, never letting Butternut out of his sight.  Now, the relationship is maturing into more of a partnership.  Nate is more relaxed about Butternut's well-being and has resumed his morning naps while Butternut takes over patrol duty.

Eyes On

Never assume.

We’ve had colder nights this winter. We’ve had wetter nights this winter. We’ve definitely had windier nights. And through it all, Josh was as happy in his natural winter woolies as he would have been on a quiet day in May.

This morning, however, Josh was shivering during the breakfast service, perfectly illustrating the need to set eyes on each and every horse several times each and every day. What was taken for granted last week – or even yesterday - may not be the case today.

Not to worry, though. A little warm mash, a bucket of warm water, a dry though somewhat dirty Weatherbeeta, and Josh is happily quidding his hay as if today is no different than any other day at TREES.

We Don't Buy Horses

In response to several recent inquiries:

No, Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary does not buy horses. 

The horses in residence come from a variety of sources.  Some had been abandoned at boarding stables, Some were left behind when farms were sold.  Several came to the sanctuary as the result of law enforcement investigations into cruelty or neglect.  Many were victims of starvation or lack of veterinary care.  A few came to us when owners encountered catastrophic changes in their lives, putting the horses' futures at risk.

The unfortunate truth is that TREES is asked to take in far more horses than we can possibly accept if we are to maintain high standards of care.  With so many horses in desperate need of places to go, purchasing horses is not an efficient use of available space and resources needed to care for current residents or to develop educational and outreach programs. 

In response to one follow up question - No, most of TREES residents were not "saved from slaughter."  Slaughter is just one of many many dangers horses face.  The horses here, abandoned or left to "let nature take its course," were never headed for the meat industry.  They, instead, were simply dipsosed of on their own home turf, like a car up on blocks at the edge of the woods in the Back Forty.  The difference, of course, is that the car does not suffer - sometimes for months or years -  when the owner stops feeding it or denies treatment of injuries or illness.  

Rienzi August 9, 2007

Rienzi August 7, 2008

Loose Teeth Be Gone!

Today was Dentist Day for a few of TREES' residents.  The team of Dr. Tracy Brown and Meredith Barlow, C/EqDT, paid a visit to Sherman, Mona, Nate, Delphi and Fitz.

Both Nate and Fitz need some attention, but will require a little advance planning.  More on them as we get them taken care of.

Delphi and Mona both had "routine" floats.  (In quotes because every horse is different, but meaning all they required was the removal of sharp points.)

Here, Mona is being "floated."  Note that the speculum is open only wide enough to allow Meredith to work.  It is not cranked all the way to its widest position.

Delphi had to give her opinion of the idea before even getting started.

But Sherman........Sherm needed a little extra attention.  Not surprisingly, Sherman had a few loose teeth.  We've heard from some owners of senior horses who were told to leave loose teeth in the mouth because the horse had so few to spare.  Aside from the discomfort that must cause, here is an excellent illustration of why that may not be a good idea.

These two teeth are shown exactly the way they came out of Sherman's mouth with little to no effort.  You can see no blood, no tissue, nothing that would indicate these teeth had any kind of physical attachment to the gum.  They were, more or less, just sitting in the socket.

The teeth are shown sitting on their chewing surfaces, roots pointing up.  Notice the green-ish material packed between what is left of the roots?  That is food that had worked its way under the tooth, between the tooth and gum.  This can cause irritation and enlargement of the pocket around the loose tooth.  If something as large as food particles can become lodged under the tooth, so can something as small as bacteria, leading to infection.  Untreated infection under and around a tooth can eventually lead or contribute to infection in the jaw bone itself, or even in the sinuses.

With all this in mind, our rule is "If its loose, its gone."

Sherman update!

Our new man, Sherman!

November 7, 2009

November 10, 2009

December 17, 2009

This gentle ol' soul has a way to go in the weight department, but is headed in the right direction.

Sherman's Rehab Plan

One of TREES facebook fans (Thanks, Michelle!) asked if we would share Sherman's diet plan.

Our reply:

"Oh, sure! Before he got here, Sherman was obviously not getting much to eat, let alone getting a good diet. When he did get anything in addition to some hay, we were told it was an inexpensive general livestock grain. Usually that means a lot of whole oats, whole corn and other whole grains that an older horse can't chew and, therefore, can't digest. When he got here, he'd had very serious diarrhea for some time.

For his first meal, he got half a flake of grass hay. No senior feed right then. At the next meal, he was offered 2 cups of Triple Crown senior feed, soaked, then another half flake of hay. (He is given senior feed in four small meals during the day.) The next day, we gave him a whole flake of hay at a time since he didn't seem to be wolfing it down. On the third day, we began slowly increasing the portion of senior feed and introducing small handfuls of soaked alfalfa cubes.

The only thing we added to the hay and senior feed to this point was some ProBios. In general, unless recommended by the vet, we try not to introduce a lot of new things to a gut that's already in an uproar. After about 5-6 days, the diarrhea was more of an intermittent problem rather than a constant issue, then we figured out that some of the hay had clover in it and that seemed to be what he was sensitive to.

We eliminated the clover and started adding Accel (thank you, Dover Saddlery!) to two meals a day since it contains probiotic ingredients. That seemed to do the trick, and though Sherman occasionally has softer manure than normal, its still well formed and not a major concern at this point.

Right now, Sherman is eating four meals a day, each consisting of 2-1/4 qt of senior feed and 1-1/2 qt of alfalfa, free choice grass hay and Accel 2x/day. Since he does still have some soft manure now and then, we're going to be very cautious introducing him to grass. We'll probably continue to increase his feed portions until he's getting 3 quarts 4x/day and maintain that diet until he regains the weight he needs.

Keep in mind that this is a customized Sherman Rehab Plan. We have a general outline we follow for each horse, but the details are always different."

Free Webcasts Address Horse Health

Free Webcast series offered by the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, My Horse University, and eXtension HorseQuest:

"Colic: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention" - Jan. 19 at 7 PM  - will feature Dr. Elizabeth Carr, MSU associate professor of large animal clinical sciences.

Respiratory Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. EST presented by Dr. Hal Schott, MSU professor of large animal clinical sciences

Lameness in the Performance Horse March 16 at 7 p.m. EST presented by Dr. Ann Rashmir, MSU associate professor of large animal clinical sciences

Rehabilitating the Lame Horse March 23 at 7 p.m. EST presented by Narelle Stubbs, visiting research associate in the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Equine Emergency First Aid April 20 at 7:00 p.m. EDT presented by Dr. Judy Marteniuk, MSU associate professor of large animal clinical sciences

For more information, visit http://www.myhorseuniversity.com/

TI-Nspire CAS with Touchpad

TI-Nspire CAS with Touchpad

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Equine Elders holiday feed drive

Helping Every Animal Live (HEAL) is hosting a holiday feed drive for the residents of Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary (TREES.) Visit the HEAL FB page to see how you can participate.  (Then be sure to "Like" and follow the HEAL page to keep up with future projects to help all animals in the area!)

From HEAL's info page:

"Helping Every Animal Live - (HEAL) is a newly forming non-profit. (501(c)(3) status is pending). Founded by an executive with experience in veterinary medicine as well as a former non-profit and governmental entity auditor, HEAL was formed to answer a much needed void in the community. We look forward to introducing our non-profit to the local community and aiding those animals in need.Mission:The mission of Helping Every Animal Live (HEAL) is twofold:

Give animals access to critical and quality veterinary care by providing financial aid and fundraising assistance to those in need.

Educate animal owners, caregivers, first responders, and veterinary professionals in order to improve the health and welfare of all animals through program resources.

Through fundraising efforts, community support, and innovative programs, HEAL will:

• Provide financial assistance for veterinary care to families who qualify for assistance

• Provide veterinary care to treat and rehabilitate sick or injured animals within local municipal animal control facilities in order to return them to a healthy and adoptable state

• Contribute veterinary assistance to animals in custody of local rescue groups, foster programs, animal sanctuaries, wildlife parks, farms, and zoos

• Track euthanasia rates within veterinary settings to reduce medically unnecessary deaths

• Maintain cancer resource center for animals in need of cancer treatments

• Conduct educational seminars to raise public awareness of key topics in veterinary medicine and other important issues as well as offer continuing education to veterinary professionals

• Offer first responder training in animal oxygen administration, CPR, first aid, and restraint and provide all local fire departments with pet oxygen masks and first aid supplies

• Offer CPR and first aid training to the general public

 Provide support to research institutes specializing in emerging veterinary treatments and procedures

• Run a wildlife triage center

• Maintain a Senior Center for aging animals, including access to in-home hospice care

• Provide access to specialized products and services for animals with disabilities

• Sponsor various animal support groups

Through long-range planning, HEAL will:

• Provide a state of the art non-profit veterinary center for specialized and critical care for all species, including wildlife and exotic animals

• Partner with the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine to improve educational standards and requirements for successful completion of a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine

HEAL web site

Another Volunteer Orientation! Sept 27, 2010

WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Monday, September 27, 2010, at 10AM

Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary - Spotsylvania, VA

Looking for a way to help horses "hands-on?" More than just "petting horses," we'll offer an opportunity to play a role in maintaining a high standard of daily care at the sanctuary. Several people who couldn't make it to the orientation on Sept 18 are nonetheless interested in getting started as soon as they can. So, WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER ORIENTATION this Monday, September 27, 2010, at 10AM.

Interested in learning how you can help?

Email info@equineelders.org for directions.

TI-36X Pro Scientific Calculator

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Graphing Calculator

Graphing Calculator

• - Added Basic Calculator
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Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Programmable Graphing Calculator

Texas Instruments TI-83 Plus Programmable Graphing Calculator

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Don't visit us at Tractor Supply tomorrow!! (Sat Dec 19, 2009)

Adoption Day event cancelled due to impending snow storm. Thank you, TSC, for your support this year. We hope you continue these events in 2010. If so, see everybody next year!

Meanwhile, thank you Gene, Carol and Jeanelle for helping with storm prep.  Stalls and sheds are cleaned and bedded, water tanks full, hoses drained, paddocks picked, sufficient feed and hay on site........I think we're as ready as we can be.  As long as Mother Nature keeps her sense of humor under control a little.

Apologies to Josh

For several weeks we've been finding the same board popped off its middle fence post every two or three days.  Notorious for bouts of itchiness from as yet unidentified origin, poor Josh stoically took all the blame.

But this morning...........AHA! 

Its not Josh fault.

Henry, my boy, we have proof!  Now to look into what's causing this big guy's troubles.

Then, we must apologize to Josh for jumping to conclusions.

Texas Instruments Inc. TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Blue Graphing Calculator (Packaging may vary)

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Revised Farm Rules -March 21, 2010

Please look for the *** marking changes

The Farm Rules are intended to make your time at Traveller’s Rest both safe and pleasant and to keep the equine residents happy and healthy. Please respect them.

Previous “horse experience” is not required.

All volunteers must sign a Waiver of Liability before volunteering for Traveller’s Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary in any capacity at any location. A parent or legal guardian must sign a Waiver of Liability for each minor volunteer between the ages of 12 and 17 years.

Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. All volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when volunteering for TREES, whether at the farm sanctuary or at off-site events.

Wear appropriate clothing during every visit. This includes safe footwear. No sandals or other open-toed shoes will be allowed. Most of the work at TREES takes place out of doors. Dress for the weather.

No Smoking! If you are on the farm, you are likely standing very near a horse, a pile of hay, a shed full of sawdust, or other fire fodder.

Anyone arriving at the farm “under the influence” will be asked to leave.

Be aware of weather conditions. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated during the summer. Take breaks to warm up in the winter.

If you are unsure of anything at any time, please ask what is appropriate. No question is “dumb.” We would rather you ask the same questions a dozen times than do anything to put yourself or one of the horses at risk.

Please call or email before coming to the farm unless you have a previously scheduled visit. On occasion, there will be no one at the farm. Letting us know before you come also allows us to organize a work schedule for the day based on the number of available volunteers.

Do not bring dogs or other pets to the farm. They will not be allowed on the premises for the safety of the horses and other volunteers. Please leave them at home. It is not fair to ask them to sit in the car while you are here.

Do not climb on, or allow children to climb on, fences or gates, farm machinery, vehicles or trailers. Climbing on fences, then leaning over to pet horses is particularly dangerous.

Please do not sit or kneel on the ground when in any area containing one or more horses. This includes, but is not limited to, fields, stalls, paddocks and sheds.

When grooming, take the horse with which you are working into a stall or private paddock. Never stand among a group of horses at liberty to work. If herd dynamics come into play, remember you are the smallest animal out there.

Do not take food of any kind into the fields where horses are at liberty.

When feeding the horses, do not take a feed bucket or pan into an area where more than one horse is loose. Make sure the horse for which the feed is intended is secured in its stall or paddock before serving a meal.

After a meal, do not allow the horses to eat any other horses’ leftovers. Remove the dishes from the stalls or sheds as the horses are turned out. It is very important that we know who did or did not finish their meals. Additionally, there may be medications in one dish that we don’t want other horses to ingest.

Do not offer the horses treats of any kind without specific permission. Some have very few teeth left and cannot chew well. Others are on special diets for health reasons. In other cases, “hand treats” may not be permitted due to behavior issues.

When approaching any of the horses, make sure they are aware of your presence before making any physical contact. Some have impaired vision, some doze more soundly than others. Talk to them, sing if you like, and watch for them to look at you or otherwise acknowledge your presence. Never approach a horse from the rear.

***Please do not walk up to a horse laying down in the field. If he suddenly decides to rise, you are not in a safe place. Never sit or lay down next to a recumbent horse.

When you go through a closed gate, close and latch it behind you. Even if you will “only be a minute.” Some horses watch very closely for the opportunity to go exploring. If a horse does get loose, notify farm management immediately. Do not try to catch the horse yourself.

Since all of our barns and sheds open to fields and paddocks from at least two sides, please pay careful attention to which gates are closed and which gates are open when you enter those structures and leave them in that configuration. The horses are grouped or separated as they are for specific reasons, primarily for their safety and for yours. If you don’t remember which should be closed, leave everything closed and ask what is appropriate for that barn or shed.

The farm house is a private residence, not a part of the Sanctuary. You are welcome to use the powder room, accessible through the door on the right at the end of the house near the parking area, at any time. There is also a refrigerator available to store drinks and snacks, accessible through the left hand door on the same end of the house. The remainder of the house is private. Please do not enter. In addition, please do not enter the chain-link fenced-area in back of the house. The dogs that may be in there are privately owned and not a part of the sanctuary.

TREES reserves the right to amend the Basic Farm Rules at any time. Updated copies will be provided to all volunteers as necessary.

*** (Rev. – 3/21/2010)

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"When To Call The Vet"

Last weekend, we were confronted by a normally ravenous mare who had turned her nose up at two of her last three meals.  A quick check showed her temperature to be 103.1, prompting a Sunday morning emergency call to our vet clinic.  While we are still treating what seems to be a viral infection, we feel initiating immediate treatment, even on a Sunday, spared this mare further complications.

With that, we'd like to premiere the newest addition to TREES collection of educational handouts:

(Thank you, Dr. Blanton!)

Equine First Aid: When to Call the Vet

Amanda L. Blanton-McAdam, DVM

As a responsible horse owner, it is imperative that you are able recognize an equine emergency, know when to call the veterinarian, and are prepared to handle the situation. The goals of this article are to help you appreciate the severity of the situation, respond promptly, and be prepared for your veterinarian and able to take control prior to his/her arrival.

General preparedness:

There are several key pieces of information that should be close at hand at all times so that during an emergency there is no time lost. The most important is your veterinarian’s office number and after hours/emergency number. It is also helpful to have directions to local referral/surgical centers on hand as well as the contact information for friends, family members, or a professional trailering service that can trailer your horse for you if you do not have access to a trailer. Educating yourself about the expense of referral procedures (e.g. colic surgery) and having a plan for each horse can also make an emergency situation less stressful.

It is critical that your horses be well trained and comfortable loading and trailering. It is likely that if the emergency is severe enough that a trailer ride to the veterinary clinic or referral center is required, both you and your horse will be stressed. Therefore, it is helpful in these instances that trailering not be an additional hurdle for you. If your horse has difficulty trailering or has never been on a trailer, there are many trainers that can offer advice and come to your farm to work with you and your horse.

Knowing your horse’s normal vital signs is an integral part of determining the severity of an emergency situation. This information is also beneficial to have when making an emergency phone call to your veterinarian.

Normal vital signs:

 Rectal temperature range: 99oF-101oF

 Pulse (heart rate): 32-48 beats per minute

 Respiratory rate: 8-24 breaths per minute

 Mucus membrane color and hydration: pink and moist

 Gut sounds: audible on both sides at close range

 Urine and manure production/consistency: know your horse’s normals

 Appetite and water consumption: know your horse’s normals

Having a well-stocked first aid kit on hand is an additional benefit during an emergency (see attached information sheet on first aid kits).

Most Common Equine Emergencies:

Below is list of common emergencies you may be confronted with as a horse owner.

 Colic:

Colic is a general term for abdominal discomfort. The signs of colic can range from subtle to severe. These signs include but are not limited to the following: depression, decreased appetite, laying down, stretching, pawing, kicking at belly, rolling, thrashing. If you notice your horse showing any of these signs, call your vet immediately. Be prepared to describe your horse’s behavior, his last bowel movement, his recent appetite, and his rectal temperature (if you can safely get a reading). Before the vet arrives, stay safe! Do not attempt to rouse a horse if he is violently or uncontrollably thrashing. Do not offer your horse any feed, hay, grass or water, and keep your horse up and walking if you are able to safely. Administer medication ONLY if advised by your veterinarian.

 Lacerations/wounds:

A laceration is a full skin thickness wound. Puncture wounds are often less obvious than large lacerations but can become severely infected if overlooked or untreated. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate your horse thoroughly from head to toe daily, paying special attention to any swelling, lameness, or evidence of wound. Before the vet arrives, catch and calm the horse, get assistance if possible, evaluate the wound, clean with water only, stop any bleeding, and call your veterinarian. Since each situation is different, these steps do not need to be followed in any strict order.

 Eye injuries:

REQUIRE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION! Call your veterinarian as soon as an eye issue is identified. Signs of ocular pain include holding the eye closed, tearing, and squinting. Be sure to note any swelling of the lids or any external injuries. Before your vet arrives, prevent your horse from rubbing the affected eye. Keep your horse quiet and place a warm compress over the affected eye (if the horse allows).

 Acute and severe lameness:

Severe lameness that comes on suddenly can be very serious. As a result, it is imperative that you call your veterinarian immediately. A non weight-bearing lameness could be as simple to diagnose and treat as a foot abscess but is important to differentiate from a fracture or nerve damage. Bilateral forelimb lameness (both front limbs) or reluctance to move forward could be a sign of founder (laminitis) and requires immediate and intense treatment. Before the vet arrives, keep your horse quiet, check the limb(s) for signs of swelling or heat, check the foot for evidence of a nail or puncture. If there is marked swelling and the horse will remain quiet, you may cold hose the limb. If you find a nail or other foreign body in the foot, keep the horse quiet but do not remove the foreign body. It is helpful for your veterinarian to see the nail, etc and perform radiographs with it in place to identify what structures may be involved.

 Choke:

Choke in horses describes an esophageal obstruction (obstruction of the food pipe). Signs of choke include food-stained saliva coming from the mouth of nostrils, an outstretched neck, and oftentimes coughing. Call your vet immediately if you notice any of these signs. Before the vet arrives, keep your horse quiet and in a stall. Do not offer feed, hay, grass, or water.

 Abortion:

An abortion in a horse is defined as a dead or dying fetus expelled < 290 days of gestation. Once an abortion is underway, it is unable to be prevented or stopped. However, due to some of the potential causes of abortions (infectious disease), it is important to isolate the mare and place the fetus and membranes in a plastic bag. Store the remains in a cool place away from dogs and wild animals. It is also good practice to discard the bedding and disinfect the stall. Call your veterinarian to examine the mare and check for any signs of retained placenta or systemic disease.

 Dystocia (foaling difficulties):

Normal foaling occurs within minutes, so any problem (dystocia) is an urgent emergency. Call your veterinarian if it is greater than 15 minutes since the water breaks and there is no foal on the ground, if there is only one leg protruding after 15 minutes, or if there is a “red bag” (whole placenta coming with foal. This will require you break open to placenta so the foal can breathe. Your veterinarian will guide you through this over the phone because there is no time to spare!).

 Recumbent (down) horse:

Several causes of a horse that is down and unable to stand on its own are as follows: complications of old age (arthritis, muscle wasting), malnutrition (weakness), fracture, neurologic problems, drug reactions, illness. Because horses are such heavy animals, prolonged recumbency can result in irreparable damage to the lungs and muscles. Horses often struggle when they go down and can rapidly become exhausted if they are not roused quickly. As a result, it is imperative to call your vet immediately. Before your vet arrives, keep the horse as quiet as possible, clear the area of any debris that may obstruct rousing the horse, and most importantly, stay safe! Be sure to approach horse from its back or head and stay away from its thrashing feet.

 Seizures:

If you find your horse having seizures, call your veterinarian immediately and STAY SAFE. Stay out of the stall with the horse to prevent from being hurt.

 Illness:

There are a variety of different signs of illness that include lethargy, decreased or no appetite, fever, and diarrhea. If you notice any of these signs, call your veterinarian immediately.

It is important to keep in mind that this is just a list of the most common types of equine emergencies. Do not hesitate to call your veterinarian at any time if you have a question about your horse. It is also a good idea to develop a good working relationship with your veterinarian during routine examinations, vaccinations, etc. prior to an emergency situation. He or she will be happy to work with you to prepare for an emergency.

=====================================
 
Be Prepared for an Equine Health Emergency/Emergency First Aid Kit

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. From lacerations to colic to foaling difficulties, there are many emergencies that a horse owner may encounter. You must know how to recognize serious problems and respond promptly, taking appropriate action while awaiting the arrival of your veterinarian.

Preparation is vital when confronted with a medical emergency. No matter the situation you may face, mentally rehearse the steps you will take to avoid letting panic take control. Follow these guidelines from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) to help you prepare for an equine emergency:

1. Keep your veterinarian’s number by each phone, including how the practitioner can be reached after hours.

Clinic name and phone number ___________________

After hours: __________________________________

2. Consult with your regular veterinarian regarding a back-up or referring veterinarian’s number in case you cannot reach your regular veterinarian quickly enough.

3. Know in advance the most direct route to an equine surgery center in case you need to transport the horse.

4. Post the names and phone numbers of nearby friends and neighbors who can assist you in an emergency while you wait for the veterinarian.

5. Prepare a first aid kit and store it in a clean, dry, readily accessible place. Make sure that family members and other barn users know where the kit is. Also keep a first aid kit in your horse trailer or towing vehicle, and a pared-down version to carry on the trail.

First aid kits can be simple or elaborate. Here is a short list of essential items:

• Cotton roll

• Cling wrap

• Gauze pads, in assorted sizes

• Sharp scissors

• Cup or container

• Rectal thermometer with string and clip attached

• Surgical scrub and antiseptic solution

• Latex gloves

• Saline solution

• Stethoscope

• Clippers

Many accidents can be prevented by taking the time to evaluate your horse’s environment and removing potential hazards. Mentally rehearse your emergency action plan. In an emergency, time is critical. Don’t be concerned with overreacting or annoying your veterinarian. By acting quickly and promptly, you can minimize the consequences of an injury or illness. For more information about emergency care, ask your equine veterinarian for the “Emergency Care” brochure, provided by the AAEP in partnership with Educational Partner Bayer Animal Health. More information can also be obtained by visiting the AAEP’s horse health web site, www.myHorseMatters.com.

Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

The Reunion

Happy Day!

Ten days ago, we had to separate Mona and Fitz when Mona became ill.  We don't have a specific diagnosis, but believe Mona contracted a virus of some kind.  Her fever, at the height of her illness, was 104.9 degrees.  Our Diva was one sick girl.  While we could not "cure" her as quickly as we might have liked, with supportive care through a combination of conventional veterinary medicine, energy work and prayer, Mona is fully recovered and, this morning, was reunited with her man.

(Keep in mind these are 27 and 30 year old horses!)

Sanctuary or Retirement?

During the last several months, Traveller’s Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary received increasingly frequent requests to take in horses that “need” a sanctuary setting due only to age, or minor unsoundness. These requests come from both private owners and horse welfarists who are having trouble finding permanent homes for such horses.

It seems like a good time, therefore, to re-run a short version of TREES acceptance policy. TREES almost always operates at maximum capacity. Maximum capacity is determined by a combination of financial status, farm size, and available manpower and may vary slightly depending on conditions. Further, because TREES takes in the horses most other places won’t accept – those of the elder set with one or more “special needs” - most often, the only way a space at the sanctuary becomes available is when euthanasia is judged, by caregivers and vets, to be the most humane option.

At that time, if the Sanctuary is able to take in another horse, priority is always given to those that are not receiving even basic care. In other words, the horses that are not receiving food or vet care necessary to maintain life, or those that are suffering pain due to untreated injury or ailment. These horses may be animals that have been abandoned, seized by Animal Control officials, or whose owners have encountered financial or physical hardships that make keeping a horse impossible. Intake functions as a sort of triage process to determine which horse is in the most immediate need.

If an owner or caregiver is ABLE to provide care for a horse, that horse is not deemed to be in immediate need. If a horse is in a well-run rescue barn, that horse is not deemed to be in immediate need. If a person “bailed” a horse and can care for him properly, but now wants to move him along just so he or she can “bail” another, that horse is not deemed to be in immediate need.

TREES is not a retirement farm. The Sanctuary was not built just to provide a leisure home for all horses of a certain age. It is intended as a place of safety for those (over a certain age) who may otherwise slip through the cracks. Please understand that these spaces are reserved for those horses who, literally, have no one else ABLE to care for them. If you’re ABLE….do it.

Beauty even on trying days

These shots were taking during our 3-day "Snowmageddon" power outage.   Another storm is expected today, bringing sleet and possibly another 5-10 inches of snow, so we're going to be filling all the water containers we can find again. 

PoP Drive!

With feed prices ever increasing and a larger percentage of Toothless Wonders at the Sanctuary than in past years, TREES' senior feed/ alfalfa cubes bill is currently hovering around $1500 per month. 

If you feed Triple Crown, Legends, or Reliance feeds to your horses, you can help TREES' elders with no added cash coming out of your pocket!  The Proof of Purchase seals on every bag are worth money to organizations enrolled in the Southern States SHOW program. 

TREES has been accepting PoP's for several years, but now we want to ask everyone to go on a PoP hunt.  Does your lesson barn feed any of the listed feeds?  Your riding club? Boarding stable?  Members of your 4-H group or local horse society?  Ask everyone who uses Triple Crown, Legends, or Reliance to clip the PoPs from every bag and bring them to your next meeting. 

(Any Triple Crown feed qualifies.  We used Senior as an example since that is what we have in our own feed room.)

We've set a goal of collecting 25,000 PoP's in 2010.  That will translate to between $2500 and $6250 dollars depending on how many of each type of feed are included in the total.  That's a pretty handsome chunk of change for free.  (Almost free, anyway - it may cost you a stamp if you mail them to TREES at PO Box 2260, Spotsylvania, VA 22553.)

Again,

Buy feed.

Clip PoPs

Mail to TREES at PO Box 2260, Spotsylvania, VA 22553

The Geezers Thank You.

Get a "Disney Day" by helping Elder Equine!

More on the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program:

Traveller's Rest Equine Elders Sanctuary has been approved for participation and is actively listing volunteer opportunities with Disney's program designed to encourage people to get involved with community non-profit organizations. 

From the Disney site:

We want to inspire one million people to volunteer a day of service to a participating organization in their communities. So we're celebrating these volunteers' good works by giving each of them a 1-day, 1-theme park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort, free. There's no better time to make a dream come true for others and let us make a few come true for you.

You must pre-register and sign up through this site to volunteer and complete your service at an eligible volunteer opportunity in the fifty United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or Canada to receive a ticket after verification of such service. Ticket quantities for this program are limited. You must be at least 18 to sign up. You may only sign up a maximum of 8 members of your household. Children must be at least 6 to participate in the program. One ticket per person, regardless of the number of times you volunteer. Program begins January 1, 2010 and continues until tickets are distributed or until December 15, 2010, whichever occurs first. Your voucher for a free ticket must be redeemed by December 15, 2010, and used on the same day of redemption.

If you are interested, please visit Give A Day. Get A Disney Day.  Type either "22553" or "Spotsylvania, VA" in the Search For An Activity box, and follow the instructions.  Easy! 

 

TREES' list of activities includes general farm work, grooming horses, cleaning donated tack, painting barns and sheds and other more specialized tasks like electrical, erosion control and landscape design.  Other activities may be listed throughout the program.

 

See you soon!

Herbal Insulin Resistance Treatment Options Reviewed

Herbal Insulin Resistance Treatment Options Reviewed

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15386

“Appropriate treatment for IR is controversial,” said Noble,” But the effective management of IR may prevent the crippling disease, laminitis.”

Some of these compounds are marketed for other uses, such as anti-inflammatories, anthelmintics, muscle builders, and coat conditioners. Scientific evidence demonstrating any beneficial effect of these herbs on insulin resistance in horses is lacking.

Noble and her coauthors emphasized, "The aim (of this review) is not to advise clinicians or horse owners about what to use, but to inform equine scientists contemplating research in this field."

Drum Roll, Please!

BRrdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdTT !!

Sometime last night, the shell cracked open and, both literally and figuratively, Sherman emerged!  Rather than staying sequestered in his stall all day and night, Sherm is now strolling outside on a frequent basis.  His eye has softened, he's inquisitive and seeking attention.  A far cry from the timid guy of the past few days.

Because he is very thin and is showing some physical signs that may point to Cushings, we are proceeding cautiously with Sherman's refeeding program.   Lack of weight can sometimes mask the severity of illnesses like Cushings and we want to avoid tiggering any complications like an episode of laminitis.

It appears Sherman is over his suspicion about the camera being a predator.  Don't be surprised if you see a lot of closeups of his nose from here on out!

Deja Vu All Over Again

No, this is not the week before this past Christmas.  This is today!  We are still in Spotsylvanina, aren't we?

Tag Team Trimming

What do you do when a horse in need of serious hoof rehab doesn't cooperate with said serious hoof rehab?  Unfortunately, somtimes, you resort to drugs.  (For the horse, not the rehabbers.)

You may remember Nate, who arrived last June, seriously underweight, suffering EPM and dealing with several very serious foot issues, including advanced infection and a maggot infestation.  Nate's EPM has been treated, but he still shows a weakness and some muscle atrophy on one side.  He's gained weight and of course the maggot issue is not an issue at this time. 

However......its going to take some time for his foot to "grow out" and return to normal, a process Nate himself is hindering because he is still quite insecure about standing on three legs and is extremely tired of having the bad foot poked and prodded and flushed.  His response to a request to lift that foot is to plant all 1200 pounds on it and challenge us to pick it up.  Understandable, under the circumstances, but not the most desirable behavior on trim day.

Is "laying him down" a good long-term solution?  Absolutely not.  Is it what we feel is best at this time?  Yes.  Retraining to stand for the farrier will likely be easier once the distraction of discomfort in the foot is gone and after Nate hopefully rebuilds a little more muscle to stabilize his balance..  So....for now.....this is Nate's Trim Tag Team.  Two people working to do the job as quickly as possible with as little sedation as possible.  Let's hope this technique becomes unnecessary soon!